The president admitted to us that the timing of his (Lewinsky) speech was probably not the best, that he wished he had more time to reflect and get his emotions together before he addressed the American people.

In 12 AD, Caligula (Gaius Caesar), Emperor of Rome, born. He succeeded Tiberius in 37AD and squandered his treasury. His popularity plummeted and he was killed at the Palatine Games.

In 1422, King Henry V of England died of dysentery in France and was succeeded by his nine-month-old son as Henry VI.

In 1668, John Bunyan, English author of "The Pilgrim's Progress," died in London.

In 1876, in Turkey, the Sultan Murad V was deposed after suffering mental collapse. He was succeeded by his brother Abdul Hamid II.

In 1880, Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands, born.

In 1888, the body of Mary Ann "Polly" Nichols, the first victim of murderer "Jack the Ripper," was found in London.

In 1907, Ramon Magsaysay, president of the Philippines 1953-57, born.

In 1907, the Anglo-Russian Convention was signed in St. Petersburg, settling differences between the two over Persia, Afghanistan and Tibet.

In 1920, the first ever news program was broadcast by the radio station 8MK in Detroit, Michigan. The station had opened its service on August 20.

In 1942, the Germans under Rommel launched an offensive to take Alam el Halfa ridge in Egypt. He was forced to withdraw after repeated advances and the battle was called off on September 7.

In 1944, in Romania Russian troops and tanks captured Bucharest and received a huge welcome from the people.

In 1962, Trinidad and Tobago became an independent nation within the Commonwealth.

In 1969, Rocky Marciano, former U.S. world heavyweight boxing champion, was killed in an air crash in Iowa.

In 1973, John Ford, U.S. film director, died. He was best known for his westerns including "Stagecoach," "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" and "My Darling Clementine."

In 1980, after two months of strikes, the Polish government agreed to reforms, including recognition of the Solidarity trade union.

In 1986, Urho Kekkonen, Finnish statesman, prime minister and president from 1956 to 1982, died aged 85.

In 1989, Princess Anne and her husband Captain Mark Phillips separated after 16 years of marriage dogged by constant rumors of estrangement.

In 1990, East and West Germany signed a treaty to harmonize their legal and political systems after the October 3 merger.

In 1991, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan declared their independence from the Soviet Union.

In 1994, troops of the former Soviet Union ended half a century of military presence on German soil with a farewell ceremony presided over by Russian President Boris Yeltsin and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.